Auckland Astronomical Society Inc

Practical Astronomy July
2021-07-19 20:00 - 21:00 (Pacific/Auckland) | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
Astronomy Software
This month we will be looking at how desktop and mobile applications can help with planning your observing sessions and learning the night sky.

Astrophotography Group July
2021-07-19 19:00 - 20:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
WinJUPOS with Stephen Dean
Stephen Dean has generously agreed to present to the group at our July meeting.
He will be giving an overview on WinJUPOS and a quick tutorial on how to use it for de-rotation of planetary images.
It should be really interesting and I look forward to seeing his process and results!

Monthly Meeting July - "The Possum comes out at night": The latest happenings at Possum Observatory, near Gisborne.
2021-07-12 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
Guest Speaker: John Drummod.
John owns and operates the Possum Observatory complex at Patutahi, 12km west of Gisborne. He owns a 50cm diameter, two 41cm, a 35cm and smaller telescopes. He also runs Gisborne Astro Tours (www.gisborneastrotours.com). In this talk, John will be sharing what he is doing with these telescopes and how they are contributing to science. He will also speak about how the astro tourism business is going and what his latest academic studies in astronomy are.
John Drummond has been fascinated with astronomy ever since his mother pointed the ‘Pot’ in Orion out to him when he was ten. John soon developed an interest in photography and it wasn’t long before the two passions were combined into astrophotography. He has been involved in astrophotography for many years and has had photos published in books and magazines around the world – and even on some New Zealand stamps.
He has used his telescopes at Possum Observatory, near Gisborne, to image targets for Ohio State University in order to co-discover exoplanets via the microlensing method. John also does astrometry of newly discovered comets and asteroids – as well as those of more well-known orbits.
John completed his MSc (Astronomy) in 2016 with Swinburne University of Technology. Currently he is doing his PhD with the University of Southern Queensland’s (USQ) Centre for Astrophysics. His work is on New Zealand’s historical role in the observation and study of comets. He is also heavily involved with the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand and was made a Fellow in 2018. He teaches science at high school and loves surfing Gizzy’s great waves!

Introduction to Astronomy July 2021
2021-07-05 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
The 79 Moons of Jupiter
by guest speaker Jonathan Park
Jupiter, the largest planet in our Solar System, has 79 known moons. Tonight, Jonathan discusses the different groups of moons orbiting Jupiter, learning about the difference between regular and irregular moons. We will see how astronomers identify which of these were originally part of a single object before breaking into the separate satellites we see today. Finally, we will take a closer look at some of the extraordinary features of the giant moons – Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto, one of which may have the perfect environment for life.

Film Night June - Planet Hunters - Billions of Habitable Planets in the Universe
2021-06-28 20:00 - 21:30 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
A documentary about the discovery of earth size exo-planets and how it was done.
The main film is 45 minutes long and will be followed by a 2021 Sky at Night show entitled “Mapping the Milky Way”

Practical Astronomy June - The Winter Night Sky
2021-06-21 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
This will be one of our quarterly Nights Sky reviews in the Planetarium. We will review the Winter Constellations and some of the deep sky objects to be found in them.
If the weather is clear, we will continue after the Planetarium session with telescope viewing.

Monthly Meeting June - Imaging magnetic fields using polarization
2021-06-14 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
Imaging magnetic fields using polarization with Prof Willem Van Straten.

Abstract: The polarization state of electromagnetic radiation from the Universe around us is rich with additional information about the physics of the emitting sources, their environments, and any intervening media through which signals propagate on their way to Earth. In this talk, I’ll introduce the basics of polarization (what it is, how it is produced, and how it is measured), and then review some of the ways in which it is applied in the field of astrophysics (e.g. Zeeman splitting, Faraday rotation, Thomson scattering, curvature radiation, synchrotron radiation, etc.). Topics covered will range from the large scale structure of magnetic fields in the cosmic web between galaxy clusters, to the magnetic fields that power jets of relativistic plasma near the event horizons of supermassive black holes, to the compact fields of neutron stars known as magnetars, where the energy density in the magnetic field is sufficient to create a virtual plasma of matter and antimatter.

Willem van Straten is an Associate Professor in the Institute for Radio Astronomy and Space Research at Auckland University of Technology. As an undergraduate in Canada, he was preparing for a job in the space industry when he learned about radio astronomy and became obsessed with pulsars. Willem then completed his PhD on high-precision pulsar timing in Australia before undertaking post-doctoral and academic staff appointments at the Netherlands Foundation for Research in Astronomy (ASTRON), The Centre for Gravitational Wave Astronomy (The University of Texas), and the Centre for Astrophysics & Supercomputing (Swinburne University of Technology). He works closely with international teams on large, long-term projects, he led the development of three scientific data analysis software packages that are used by the international community of pulsar astronomers, and he successfully led the design of the pulsar timing instrumentation for the Square Kilometre Array.

Young Astronomers June
2021-06-14 19:00 - 20:00 | Auckland
The Young Astronomers Group for Junior members discusses current topics in space exploration and astronomy.

Gibbs Farm Dark Sky Observing Event
2021-06-12 15:00 - 23:00 | Gibbs Farm, New Zealand
Dark Sky Party at Gibbs Farm.
Saturday 12 June.
Numbers strictly limited so please register your attendance by sending an email to events@astronomy.org.nz or contacting Niven Brown on 021 935 261.
Event starts at 3:00 pm so you can explore the sculptures and exotic animals. Bring a picnic dinner. Gates close at 5:00 pm and the event finishes at 11:00 pm.

Introduction to Astronomy June 2021
2021-06-07 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
The Sun – Our Nearest Star
What’s going on and why?
Our nearest star, the Sun, is vital to life on Earth; but what do we know about it? Tonight, we discuss various intriguing facts and figures, including where it resides and how it moves within our galaxy, the Milky Way. Following illustrations of how the Sun was born and how it will evolve, making Earth uninhabitable, and then eventually die as a white dwarf, diagrams will show you the internal structures of the Sun and how we know. Also, learn the processes behind and the differences between Sunspots, solar flares, solar prominences and coronal mass ejections, plus how they affect us on Earth.
Attendees will enjoy our large screen while viewing two High-Definition NASA Videos of the Sun’s activity captured by solar observatories, plus receive a comprehensive five-page handout of the material covered.
We look forward to seeing you all there to chat about the big round bright ball in our daytime sky!

Film Night MAY - SUPER MASSIVE BLACK HOLES.
2021-05-24 20:00 - 21:00 | Auckland
MAY Film Night: Super Massive Black Holes
At May Film night Ken Hulls uses two films to look in detail at Super Massive Black Holes.
After an introduction, the first looks in detail at the prediction and subsequent discovery of the super massive 4.5 million solar mass black hole at the middle of the Milky Way, explaining the science and techniques involved. The second looks in detail at the making of the photograph of the 6.5 Billion solar mass black hole at the centre of the M87 galaxy, published in late 2019 with update March 2021. The film looks at how the photograph of this object, which is 55 million light years away was made, and what it tells us.

Practical Astronomy May - Preparing for the Lunar Eclipse with Otto Gruebl
2021-05-17 20:00 - 20:30 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
The Lunar Eclipse and its Imaging in prospect of a Total Lunar Eclipse at 26.5.2021 for 15 minutes.

Guest Speaker – Otto Gruebl.

I am interested in Astronomy since I was young.
I got really active when I moved to Gisborne in 2008 and joined the Gisborne Astronomical Society GAS I had the honour having been their President in 2013. I am member of RASNZ and enjoy since 2017 to be a member of AAS.

I do Solar Imaging in Ha and CaK since 2014 and I am an Eclipse Chaser what includes Lunar Eclipses.In the last years I started Whitefield Nightscapes.In 2020 I started Planetary Imaging and Lunar Imaging as well.
I am living in Whangarei Heads with view of Mt.Manaia and Marsden Point and can see the Milky Way.
I work as Consultant Psychiatrist for Maor Mental Health and Addiction Services at Northland.
DHB.
My home country is Austria.

Kind regards
Nga Mihi
Otto

Monthly Meeting May - Ngā Whetū O Matariki
2021-05-10 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
This will be a special Planetarium Presentation for the AAS by the Auckland Stardome.
Ngā Whetū O Matariki

Join us at the Stardome for a presenter-led, Matariki kōrero under the planetarium stars. You’ll hear about ngā whetū (the stars), ngā aorangi (the planets), Maramataka (lunar cycle) and the many stories written in our night skies passed down from generation to generation.

Presenter: Olive Karena-Lockyer, Stardome Planetarium Presenter

Young Astronomers May
2021-05-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand

Introduction to Astronomy May 2021
2021-05-03 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity
Tonight Demystified
Einstein’s ground-breaking 1905 Theory of Special Relativity defines the relationship between space and time. Tonight Chris Benton discusses what led Einstein to form his two initial postulates for this theory, what those two postulates are, and the fascinating implications counterintuitive to classical physics.
Come along and discover why nothing can travel faster than the speed of light in empty space and how observers may differ on the order in which events occur. You will also see how starfaring spacecraft appear to shorten in length while astronauts age slower than others on Earth, plus learn about the famous thought-provoking Twins Paradox.

2021 Annual General Meeting of the Auckland Astronomical Society
2021-04-26 20:00 - 21:30 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
Notice of Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting of the Auckland Astronomical Society Inc. will be held at the Stardome Observatory, One Tree Hill Domain, on Monday 26th April 2021 starting at 8pm.
All Society members are encouraged to attend and help with the future of the Society. The agenda and a copy of the reports will be posted prior to the meeting. Printed copies will also be distributed at the meeting. Nominations are open for all council positions; President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Librarian, Curator of Instruments, Editor and three to five council members and also the position of the AAS representative on the Auckland Observatory and Planetarium Trust Board Selection Committee. Nominations must be received by the Secretary by Monday 12th April 2021 and must be made using the form below.Note nominees, nominators and seconders must be current financial members. Any questions or enquires can be directed to Bill Thomas (President) by email to president@astronomy.org.nz or phone 09478 4874.
Nomination form: Notice with Nomination Form

Special General Meeting of the Auckland Astronomical Society
2021-04-26 19:45 - 20:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
Notice of Special General Meeting
The Auckland Astronomical Society Council have called for a Special General
Meeting to be held at 19:45 on Monday 26 th April at the Stardome Observatory
and Planetarium. This is immediately prior to the 2021 Annual General Meeting.
Special General Meeting Agenda
1. AAS Rule change approval.
The current rule 25 is as follows:
“25. The Council may invest and re-invest the whole or any part of the funds of
the Society which are not required for immediate business in interest-bearing
government or trading bank investments registered with the Reserve Bank of
New Zealand.”
The AAS Council propose replacing this rule as follows:
“25. The Council may invest the funds of the Society which are not required for
immediate business in Government stock or debentures, a community founda-
tion, or trading bank interest-bearing investments, managed investment
schemes, portfolio investment entities, or investments of similar nature, as the
Council may from time to time think fit.”
The reason for this proposal is the low level of return of interest bearing invest-
ments. The society funds can be invested for better returns without incurring
undue risk.
The current AAS rules are available at the link below:
https://cloud.astronomy.org.nz/index.php/s/p3WZNz3mZPqExAP
2. The AAS Assent to the Proposed Auckland Observatory and Plane-
tarium Trust Deed Changes as specified below.
The current Trust Deed specifies that the Auckland Astronomical Society Presi-
dent and Treasurer are ex-officio Trustees of the Auckland Observatory and
Planetarium Trust. The AAS Council requested the AOPTB to prepare an alter-
ation to the Trust Deed granting the Society the power to appoint an alterna-
tive Trustee instead of the AAS Treasurer. The Trust board agreed to this and
have also taken the opportunity to propose some other minor alterations to the
Deed prepared by the law firm Simspon Grierson.
The proposed changes:
The key update implemented by these documents is to clause 3 of the sched-
ule to the Trust Deed – designed to permit AAS to appoint any individual (as op-
posed to the treasurer) as a trustee.
Although SG has not reviewed all of the other details of the schedule, we have
suggested some further changes to the schedule as follows:
1.
Updates to clause 8 of the schedule to refer to current legislation
relating to ineligibility to hold office as a trustee of a trust and to act as an offi-
cer of a registered charity.
2.
Affirming the replacement of clauses 16 and 17 of the schedule,
which were purportedly replaced pursuant to an amendment dated 30 June
2009 filed with the Companies Office (but not filed on the Charities Register).
The purported amendment in 2009 changed the Trust’s balance date to 30
June (which we have put in clause 17) and provided for Trust Board annual
meetings to be held in September each year (see clause 16).
3.
Expanding clause 16 of the schedule to expressly provide for Trust
Board meetings to be held by means of audio or audio and visual communica-
tion. This type of provision is typically included in modern trust deeds to pro-
vide flexibility.
4.
Expanding clause 19 to deal, not only with the use of the Trust
Board’s seal, but also the wider issue of executing deeds and signing/assenting
to contracts etc. The clause is intended to reflect related provisions in s19 of
the Charitable Trusts Act 1957 and the s13 of the Property Law Act 2007, and
should also assist with the issue that we have come across regarding the full
Trust Board not having to sign off/approve the Trust Board’s receipt of dona-
tions.
The proposed wording of clause 3:
(a) the President of the Society for the time being, who shall be a trustee by
virtue of their office in the said Society and shall upon ceasing to hold such of-
fice cease to be a Trustee and shall be succeeded as a Trustee by their succes-
sor.
(b) an individual appointed as a Trustee by the Society (acting in accordance
with the rules of the Society) and notified in writing by the Society to the Trust
Board (and any such Trustee may be removed by the Society in the same man-
ner).
The full proposed Deed of variation is available below:
https://cloud.astronomy.org.nz/index.php/s/J2FraEGZcJNTqDD

Practical Astronomy April
2021-04-19 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
Telescopes and Accessories.
Along with a short introduction on how telescopes work, this meeting will discuss some of the common types of telescopes used by amateur astronomers. We will then look at accessories combined with telescopes for visual observing.

Astrophotography Group
2021-04-19 19:00 - 20:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
Joe Nidd from Dunedin will be with us via teams. He will discuss his astro-photographjy setup, a bit of the background that got him to identifying the need for what he has built. He will then go through the build and use in a bit of detail and show us some of his resulting images.

Shaun

Monthly Meeting April
2021-04-12 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
With Rolf Wahl Olsen.
My talk will be about latest images and achievements in the last two years, including the first amateur image of light echoes of Supernova 1987A and a new collaboration with NASA on a multi-wavelength image of Centaurus A.
I have been interested in astronomy for as long as I can remember and have observed the night sky visually for decades with both binoculars and telescopes. In 1990 I got my first telescope, a 60mm alt-az refractor. A couple of years later I upgraded to a 100mm refractor on an equatorial mount and in 1995 I got a 10 inch f/5 Newtonian reflector. This telescope was used extensively for both planetary and deep sky observing and in 2003 I ventured into the world of astrophotography and began taking images with a long-exposure modified webcam. In 2011 I built a Serrurier truss 12.5 inch f/4 Newtonian and then upgraded the webcam to a highly sensitive QSI683wsg CCD camera which I now use to take all my images.
The modified webcam was a great opportunity to learn as it required me to really work on developing processing skills in order to achieve good results. It also forced me to think carefully about my choice of subjects, given the webcam’s limited resolution and low sensitivity. My later images taken with the CCD camera greatly benefited from these early lessons.
I enjoy photographing all astronomical subjects but perhaps my favourites are galaxies, especially peculiarly shaped ones or distant galaxy clusters, or those engaged in dramatic mergers such as the famous pair of Antennae galaxies. I enjoy taking images that are unusual, either being of a rarely imaged object, or perhaps a familiar object presented in a new way. Among my images you will find exotic objects like the circumstellar disc of Beta Pictoris, gravitational lenses, quasars, distant galaxy clusters and extragalactic globulars. I find that these obscure targets often have a very interesting story to tell.

Young Astronomers April
2021-04-12 19:00 - 20:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand

Northern Star Party - Waharau Regional Park - Event Sold Out!
2021-04-09 17:00 - 2021-04-11 11:00 | Waharau Regional Park, 1748 East Coast Rd, Orere Point, Whakatiwai, 2473
Sorry, this event is now sold out- can put people on waitlist to replace any cancellations.
Northern Star Party (Dark Sky Weekend) at Waharau Regional Park. – April 9th to 11th 2021. Put this in your calendar!
It is also open to non – Astronomical Society to attend. It’s a great fun weekend.
The Auckland Astronomical Society’s Waharau Dark Sky Weekend (2021 Northern Star Party – Dark Sky Weekend) is held at Waharau Regional Park 1748 East Coast Rd, Orere Point, Whakatiwai 2473 (about 1 hours drive from central Auckland) starting on Friday 9th April at 5pm and ending Sunday 11th April at 11am.
It will be a weekend of practical astronomy and dark sky observing. It is great opportunity to spend a weekend viewing the sky from a dark site on Moonless nights thought a range of different telescopes. Bring your telescope or binoculars, but if you don’t have any there will be plenty there for you to look through. Also the society has telescopes available for hire. Contact Steve Hennerley (027) 245 6441 or Darren Woodley 021776481 email: rental@astronomy.org.nz to get these. Book now as these can become booked out!
During the day on Saturday there will be a full programme of practical astronomy – how to use equipment and various types of telescopes, new equipment demonstrations and an astrophotography workshop.
Films will be shown in the early evening on Friday and if appropriate on Saturday.
Price:
AAS Member earlybird $20.00. Payment received by Friday 26th March.
AAS Member standard $30.00
Non-member earlybird $40.00. Payment received by Friday 26th March.
Non-member standard $50.00
This price includes bunk bed type accommodation.
To book please pay the amounts as set out above into the Auckland Astronomical Society Inc ASB bank account: Account number: 12-3061-0321397-00 with the notation “Waharau” and your name and then email Gavin Logan: gavinlgn@gmail.com giving the names of the people attending.
There is an event limit of 65. The last Waharau Star Party sold out. Booking will be confirmed once payment has been made.

Introduction to Astronomy April 2021
2021-04-05 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
What is Dark Matter?
The Evidence, the Candidates & the Search
If you are interested in how the Universe appears and behaves on large scales, you will enjoy this essential talk. Attendees will also receive a ten-page handout on dark matter covering the discussion and expanding on selected points.
85% of the matter in the Universe is elusive dark matter that we cannot directly observe, but presence is seen through its effects on the surrounding environment. Tonight, Chris Benton discusses compelling evidence for dark matter and its importance in the structure and evolution of the Universe. Following this, an outline of dark matter’s apparent properties leads into identifying the candidate particles and the experiments designed to detect them.
We look forward to seeing you all there.

March Film Night - Solar Superstorms
2021-03-22 20:00 - 21:30 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
This documentary is about the turbulent nature of solar activity, how superstorms (coronal mass ejection) that occur on the sun have impacted Earth in the past, and what threat they may pose to us in the future.
The main film is 50 minutes long and will be followed by the September 2020 Sky at Night Show about new discoveries in the atmosphere of Venus (30 minutes long).

Practical Astronomy
2021-03-15 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
The Autumn Night Sky.
With the return to level 1, we resume meetings at the Stardome. This will be one of our seasonal Night Sky reviews in the Planetarium. If the weather is clear we will follow the Planetarium session with Telescope viewing using the EWB Zeiss telescope.

Astro Photography Group March
2021-03-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
First images in NINA with a DSLR and ASCOM mount
Speaker/Host: Shaun Fletcher
For this months meeting I will first of all be awarding the prize for the best image of M42 posted by a group member this season. Very much looking forward to reviewing the images and handing over the excellent book.
After this I will present a quick tour of my experience getting to a first image sequence in NINA, replacing my previous capture tools. Using my Canon DSLR and EQ6 mount, I go through install and setup, and getting to a plate-solved image and a functional capture sequence.
Look forward to seeing you all again.
Shaun

Monthly Meeting - The Life and Death of Stars - the life cycle of stars in our galaxy
2021-03-08 20:00 - 21:00 | Online
With Associate Professor and Dean, Karen Pollard, Director of The University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory.
The Life and Death of Stars – the life cycle of stars in our galaxy
Stars are key components of galaxies: they are hosts for families of planets; they create the chemical elements deep in their interiors; they evolve and explode, providing the physical feedback mechanism to kickstart new generations of star formation.
In this talk I will take you on a journey to understand our place in the universe and how we came to be, concentrating on the crucial role stars play in the evolving universe.
Karen Pollard is an associate professor at the University of Canterbury and Director of the University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory. Her research areas are in stellar astrophysics, with specific interests in investigating the structure, formation and evolution of stars and planetary systems. Karen was born and raised in Christchurch, New Zealand, and did her BSc (Hons) and PhD degrees in Physics and Astronomy at UC. She has worked as an astrophysicist in South Africa, the US, Chile and New Zealand.
Watch online at 8pm Monday 8th March on the AAS youtube Channel

Introduction to Astronomy March 2021
2021-03-01 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
What is Dark Matter?
The Evidence, the Candidates and the Search
If you are interested in how the Universe appears and behaves on large scales, you will enjoy this essential talk. Attendees will also receive a ten-page handout on dark matter covering the discussion and expanding on selected points.
85% of the matter in the Universe is elusive dark matter that we cannot directly observe, but presence is seen through its effects on the surrounding environment. Tonight, Chris Benton discusses compelling evidence for dark matter and its importance in the structure and evolution of the Universe. Following this, an outline of dark matter’s apparent properties leads into identifying the candidate particles and the experiments designed to detect them.
We look forward to seeing you all there along with your family and friends.

Practical Astronomy - Names and Catalogues
2021-02-15 20:00 - 21:00 | Online
This talk will discuss Astronomical nomenclature, the common catalogues of stars and deep sky objects used by amateur astronomers and the information to be found in them.
If the sky is clear, the talk will be followed by telescope viewing using the EWB Zeiss telescope.

Astrophotography Group February
2021-02-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
Topics in Astrophotography
